Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-10-27
a Quaint old Virginia Town.

a Quaint Old Virginia Town.
Washington Letter TO PittsLurg Dspatch.l
With memo lies as precious as those of its
ancient nameaake on the southern shores Of
the blue Tyrrhanean Sea, cur Alexandria is
The most houted and insulted Of towns
Every tiabby wit and sickly humorist who
happens to set foot in the town-and there
are many of them-has something to say oft
that he, if no one else, thinks is awfully fun.
ny. He finds food for laughter in every.
thing he sees. The leisurely air of the aver.
age citizen excites his risibilities to copious
! overflow. A few spears of grsss growing
! between the old fashioned cobble stones
which pave the streets, such as are yet found
plentifu!ly in Pittsburg, believe make him
roar to the bursting point. Being the sick
liest, slenderest, spndliest, dwarishest pro.
duct OF barren intellectual period, being
prompted only by the pennies thrown to him
Tor an effort which appeals successfully TO
! irresistible humorists like himself, of which
the world is full he cannot or will not see
| the charm there is in an atmosphere not laden
with the vail of cent per cent, and that if
grass grows between the paving stones it is
fine compliment to the fertility of the soil.
in Georgetown, with arched doors and old
knockers, and latticed and dormer windows
and immense chimneys. like Alexandria
ness there to keep it alive and improving q
little, and enough decay to give it the charm
of maturity. like both better than Wash
ugton. Just as l like the rich coors Of
autumn better than the crude green of
spring.
| / hope Alexandria will never lose its ma
ture and leisurely way, but am convinced
that it will one day be to Washington what
Brooklyn is TO New York-what Allegheny
| is to Plttsburg. Even now many who do
/ business in Washington. and many in Gov
ernment employ, reside in the ancient
town.
The situation of the town is beautiful. 1t
rises from its harbor like Genoa the Su.
perb." The expanse of river is like that of
fine bay. In every direction there is
charming scenery, and the air is wholesome.
One can live much cheaper there than in
| Washington, and, after the hustle OF Wash
Dgton, 1t is grateful to retire TO the quist OF
! Alexaudria. just now there has been initi-
ated q movement to build great national
highway from Washington through Airing
ton and Alexandria 10 Mount Vernon, with
|
every State and Ierritory in the Union--a
broad, beautiful boulevard, the grandest
drive iu the United States. If this be con.
strucled Alexandria will be half way
place, great resort for the drivers and
riders and patrons OF tally. Tho coaches, which
will make the boulevard, during the fash.
iouabe season, resemble the drive from
| HYDE Park corner to Albert Memorial.
Alexandria has many historic landmarks
| which are as interesting almost as any in
tho land, and wee be to the vGndal who
destroys them TO make way for the march
of civilization"
In fire that occurred some years ago the
Marshall House was almost destroyed, and
its rebuilding has left scarcely vestige Of
the place as. il was when Ellsworth was
killed. but it is inquired for by every visitor
and the spot is viewed with much interest
One of the finest OF the old landmarks OF
Alexandria in the residence of Gen. Brad.
dock, which is almost surrounded and hid
den by big hotel, called the BTaddocK
House. Braddock's residence is q fine old
house, built Of frse-stone, with wide hail
winding stairs, panelied rooms, carved
wooden mantepieces, extending to the CELL
ing, and O massive pllared porch at what
was once the front. 1t was built away back
|
waters of the Potomac then Tapped its walls
Now they are half a mile away, driven back
by the made land for the docks.
Another attractive old mansion is the res
idence of Washington while he lived in
Alexandria; and just here let me say thai
there are many interesting relics of Wash
ineton in private hands in Alexandria, and
also in q collection that is open to the pub
lie in a little museum in the fine new City
Building.
The City Hotel was in its day noted
place. 1t is fine old building, with biz
chimneys and carved mantelpieces. 1t wa:
built in 1896 by Mrs. john Wise, while hel
husband was in Europe, and was then call
; ed John Wise's Tavern. Afterwards it was
successively known as Gadsby's Tavern auG
Clagett's Tavern, and in it, under all these
names, there was many good banquet il
honor of the nobilities of the day, Washing
ton and Lafayette especially. From the
porch of Gadsby's Tavern, on the 18th o
November, 1893, Washington reviewed tht
Independent Blues of Alexandra, sitter The
> war was over, and there issued what wa:
called his last military order. His first birth
: day ball was given here February 22d, 1897
and in the big ballroom on the second floor
which looks very much now as it did then
the GeneTai leu tue ua0ce IN person. On Oct
t 6. 1924, splendid banquet was given by tht
Masonic fraternity at this house, then called
Clagett's Tavern, to the Marquis de Lafay
cite, and among those present were Johl
Quincy Adams. Commodores Rogers ann
Porter, Generals Macombe and Jones
Thomas Swami, father of ex-Gov. Swami
OF Maryland, and George Washington Park
Custis.
, Of course the old church, Christ Church
"Washington's church" as it is popu!arl.
: IL. &c tod